Seduced (2016) - full transcript

[Woman]
I was riding my bike
down the Venice boardwalk

when I fell into the sand,

and you were there
to help me up.

I wanted to ask your name,
but I was too embarrassed.

I wish I had.

[Man]
You were my waitress
at lunch today.

I made a joke
of the soup du jour

and your laugh
warmed my heart.

I wanna hear it again.

Maybe you'll see this and reply.

[Woman]
Our dogs played together
at the park.



You had an adorable
Schnauzer named Sammy.

I never asked your name.

-I saw you...
-Want to meet...

-Exchanged glances...
-I felt...

-Maybe...
-Find you...

-If only...
-You see this...

Please reply...

-A connection...
-A connection...

Connection...

[Man]
You had red hair
and a scarf,

reading a romance novel,

bundled up against the world.

There was a sadness
in your eyes

I want to erase.



Make me the happiest man
in the world and reply.

-[Jason] Funder Storm.
-[Group] Funder Storm!

[All]
Funder Storm! Funder Storm!

That's right, people!
It's a freaking Funder Storm
in here!

Oh!
[laughs]

Funder Storm is now
the fourth largest

crowd funding site,
and that is because of you.

[cheers and applause]

Psst. Caroline, hey.

I assume you're
signing those checks

that Jason was supposed to
give us for our bonus

after we got fourth place?

Yeah, you just keep
waiting for those checks.

A little unicorn's gonna
gallop into your bedroom.

[chuckles]
Nice.

-[Noah] You can't be serious.
-I am serious.

-Babe, really?
-[Caroline] Serious about what?

Hey, Mom, the sink
is broken again.

We're doing a paper for school

on Missed connections.

You're writing a paper about
people missing their flights?

[laughs]
No.

Uh, it's Missed Connections
on the Internet.

You know when you have
a moment with a stranger

but you don't have the courage
to say anything about it
in the moment?

People post messages hoping
that other person replies.

I think it's
incredibly romantic.

Remind me to call the plumber.

I think it's
painfully desperate.

What's painfully desperate
about fate?

Yo, you really need to monitor

your daughter's
John Cusack movie intake.

-Noah.
-Aww.

-She introduced me to J.C.
-No, she didn't.

Yeah, our romantic savior.

Come on.
That's disappointing.

All right, then you tell me,
what's so romantic about this?

"I saw you at Soul Cycle
in WeHo.

"You were wearing
purple spandex.

"Your ass looked so good.

I could barely take it."

Hey, that's a bad example.

That's what's written.

Okay, Mom.
"We took the same elevator

at Century City
every day for five years

and I always wish
I would've asked you--"

"If you would sleep with me,"

-Okay. All right.
-'cause that's really what
all this crap is about.

-on this website.
-Good night, Noah.

-Zip it. Zip it.
-Isn't it? Isn't it?

Good night, Noah.

All right. Good night, ladies.
I don't want to be a part

-of your little
John Cusack cult anyways.
-Whatever.

Guys, no way!

Look at this!

[Reporter]
Hello, everybody.

We've got breaking news
from here on the West Side.

This morning after more than
10 days of intense searching,

a body washed up
on Venice Beach

-That's horrible.
-and has now been identified

as missing coffee heiress,

Alexia Montrose.

Police do suspect foul play.

We'll continue to
follow this story.

We'll have a live report for you
coming up later in the day.

this is why you need to stay off
the Internet, both of you.

There are killers on there.

That was a movie, Mom.

It was based on
a true story, Issie.

Mom, where do you
usually eat lunch?

The boardwalk.

-There's this really
pretty hill there.
-Oh, my God!

It's you.

What's me?

Okay.

"I saw you at the Venice
boardwalk around lunch time.

You know how many people
go to the boardwalk?

"You had red hair, a scarf,

"and were reading
a romance novel.

"You were bundled up
against the world.

"Your body was quiet
but your soul cried out to me.

"There was a sadness
in your eyes

"that I want to erase.

Make me the happiest man
in the world and reply."

That's not me.

This is so you!

You're obsessed.

You're grasping at straws.

-It's not me.
-No, this is fate!

I don't have sad eyes, okay?

And I already had
my fated romance:

your father.

Okay, well, first of all,
I mean, you don't have

the happiest eyes
in the world...

[chuckles]

and Dad is gone.

Just reply once.

Dad wanted you
to be happy.

Some guy on the Internet
isn't gonna make me

any more happy
than I am right now.

[sighs]

"Sad eyes"...

I don't have sad eyes.

♪ ♪

[Issie]
It's so frustrating.

She won't even take
a chance, you know?

[video game explosions]

Maybe if she knew for sure that
this guy was looking for her.

Yeah, but she won't even reply.

That's the beauty
of the Internet.

She doesn't have to.

Noah, you're a genius.

Yeah, but like
a sexy genius, right?

Yeah, a sexy one.

Yeah? Like if Channing Tatum
played a scientist?

[chuckles]
Yeah, something like that.

Did anything else happen
that was exciting today

outside of your laptop?

Well...

What?

I was gonna save it
for fortune cookies

and make it all dramatic
and read it off the slip.

Spill it.

Okay. I, um...

I got a letter from Berkley.

Oh!

And I'm in.

-I knew it.
-Yay!

I'm so proud of you.

My girl.

Bad fortune is
the financial aid package

is a little less
than we were hoping for.

How much less?

-Like "yikes" less.
-Okay. well...

That's okay. I'm gonna--
I'm gonna figure it out.

Or I could just go to
Santa Monica City College

-and then we wouldn't have to
worry about money.
-No, you should not do that.

No, no, no...

And I could live here
and you wouldn't have
to be alone.

I don't care about being alone.
Come on, stop it.

You're gonna make me cry.

Mom!

I'm gonna be fine, and...

I'm very proud of you.

Thanks, Mom.

You know your dad
would be very proud of you.

Yeah.

-Okay?
-Okay.

-[sniffles]
-Please don't cry.

Please.

I can't help it.

-Give me the letter.
-Okay.

Proof I got in.

♪ ♪

[door opens]

[Caroline]
Um, I'm sorry,
did I get the time wrong?

-Should I come back?
-Oh, no, no.

Come on in, come on in.
Let's chat.

Oh, this is one of me
at my place in the Maldives.

We should go there sometime.

Have a seat.

Uh, an investor sent that
to me as a gift.

By the time I figure out
how to use it,

I'll have died
of caffeine withdrawal.

So what are we chatting about?

Well, I mean, as you know,

we've exceeded our projected
quarterly earnings.

Hashtag killing it.

Go on.

I wanted to talk to you
about the idea of you paying us

those bonuses that you promised
me and everybody else
in the office.

Oh. Um...

Excuse me. I'm sorry.

Thank you very much
for today.

And turn that crap off.

Jessie, um,
could you shut the door?

Thanks.

[door opens, closes]

Caroline, do you really think
now is a good time

to talk about this
with the IRS breathing
down my neck?

Well, that's exactly the point.

The books reflect that
$3.7 million has been
spent on bonuses,

but I'm struggling to see
where that money has gone.

I put it back
into the company.

Where into the company?

Caroline...

it's your job to make the books
look as clean as possible.

Now, if you can't do your job,

I'll find someone else who can.

No, I've got it.

Good.

Oh, no. Uh, take that.

What? I--
I don't really want it.

No, no, no, no.
It's really...

You do work hard
and I notice.

Thanks.

Hey, Caroline?

You forgot the beans.

Guatemalan.
It's premium stuff.

[door closes]

♪ ♪

Sup?

Oh.

Hey, honey, I'm home!

Let's go get a hamburger!

And don't use this.
I'm selling it.

Gavin.

What-in?

His name is Gavin.

He is the man
who is looking for you.

I cannot believe
you replied for me.

-Are you crazy?
-I had to.

I had to make sure he wasn't,
like, a creep or hideous--

-Well, he probably is a creep.
-He's not. Look.

-This is probably not
even his picture.
-Oh, my God.

Well, you-- you will
find out on Friday.

At dinner. At a French place.

-It's, like,
La Petit Something.
-What?

I looked it up. Fancy.

Okay, I am so not
going to that.

"Yes, that's the face
I can't get out of my head.

"The face that keeps
me up at night.

"I want to hear your story.
I want to know your soul.

I'm so happy that fate..."

-I'm gonna kill you.
-Oh, it's so cute.

-You're a knucklehead.
-Come on! So?

-Are you gonna do it?
-[sighs]

-What?
-Are you gonna do it?

[sighs]

Gavin?

Shall we?

[Caroline]
I haven't done this...

in a long time.

And I imagine
the last time you did this

it wasn't set up
through some strange website.

No, it certainly was not.

Never before.

Uh, you are nervous.

Don't be.

Fate brought us here
for a reason.

Let's find out why.

What do you do?

[exhales]
I-- I work in finance.

I-- I actually, I run
the finances for a tech company.

A local in Venice
called Funder Storm.

Oh, you--
are you the CFO?

My title doesn't say that
or my paycheck, but yes.

It's not really the most
fulfilling job in the world.

I-- I-- I think...

American culture puts
too much emphasis

on finding fulfillment
through work.

I mean, we ask each other,
"What do we do for a living?"

when...

we should be asking,
"What do you live to do?"

You see things in
a very unique way, Gavin.

I... I used to be
a cog in the machine...

[distorted]
for a European investment firm,

but I recognized...

♪ I wait another day
in my head for you ♪

♪ You, you ♪

♪ I live another day
with an empty hand ♪

♪ Hand, hand ♪

-♪ I wait another day ♪
-Caroline?

I'm not-- I'm-- No, I...

I know that most people
go to these websites

to fulfill specific needs,

but I'm-- I'm not looking
to pursue that kind of thing.

You know?

Um, what are you looking for?

What do you want, Caroline?

[sighs]
I'm sorry. I can't pursue this.

-Thank you.
Thank you very much.
-Um...

This is... good night.

Caroline, um...

♪ ♪

I know what I want.

♪ Never tried it ♪

♪ Wanna know ♪

♪ Baby, take it slow ♪

♪ You fell for me ♪

♪ For the night ♪

♪ Skin on skin ♪

♪ Don't ask me how ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Lead you on ♪

♪ Lead you in ♪

♪ Before it's gone ♪

♪ Sweet, simple sin ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ ♪

Oh, I forgot to
call the plumber.

It's okay.
I watched a How To video,

but I'm starting to think
that PipeMan44

-doesn't know how
to fix pipes.
-[chuckles]

You don't have to
worry about this.

I'll call in the morning, okay?

How was your date?

Did it go good?
Was he cute?

Yeah, it was-- it was nice.

-Just nice?
-Mm-hmm.

Are you gonna go
on a second one?

Mm, I don't think so.

Probably not.

You sure?

-Get some sleep.
-Okay.

[Jason]
And we need to...

capitalize...

on their dreams.

Lunch.

Expecting a call?

Guess not.

[gasps]

[Gavin]
I wasn't sure you'd come.

I didn't know if I was
gonna hear from you again.

We, uh, have the place
to ourselves.

So, I propose a game.

One minute to find one book

that changed you.

-Okay.
-Starting now.

♪ ♪

-You picked Shakespeare?
-[chuckles]

Shakespeare's too easy.

20 seconds.

-I win!
-Ah!

[chuckles]

"I loved her against reason,

"against promise,

"against peace, against hope,
against happiness,

against all discouragement
that could be."

Please.

[sighs]

[giggles]

I-- I read that actually
at a time when

I needed to remind myself
that sometimes you need
to let love go.

Unless you end up
like Miss Havisham,

pining away
in a dusty wedding dress.

Oh, Raskolnikov, huh?

A man trying to
get away with murder.

A man who's trying
to counterbalance, uh...

his crimes with, um...

with good deeds.

And he was...

redeemed by the love
of a woman.

A woman's love is
a very powerful thing.

I will drink to that.

I need to go back to work.

Do you?

In the wooden rowboats

following the starlight

to a place where
the moonlight brings

all of the fish to the surface,

and with these wooden boats,
we herd the fish into one mass,

and then everybody gets
very quiet.

Eyes down on the bottom
of the boat.

My father
with one quick movement

hurls into the mass of fish
a stick of dynamite...

-Poom!
-[gasps]

Oh, my God.
That's so amazing.

Perhaps someday
I will take you there.

My husband Paul died
two years ago.

To cancer.

It was all just
very fast, and...

just one day to the next
he was gone.

Oh, I'm-- I'm so sorry.

It was all I--
I had ever known.

You know, it was
the only love I ever wanted.

Um...

Sometimes when we lose
everything we'd ever wanted,

we forget what it is like
to want again.

Yeah.

I have to go back to work.

Oh, I have to--

Have dinner with me tonight.

Hm?

At my place.

I'll cook.

I will think about it.

Thank you.

C-line! Where have you been?
I've been looking
for you everywhere.

-I, uh--
-I-- I asked her to sit in
on an investor meeting for me.

I was tied up, so--

I got a call
from the IRS.

No, no, no, no.
I'm on that.

-You--
-I'm on that.

-They want to look at the books.
Are we ready for that?
-I got it covered.

Are you sure?

All right.

C-- Caroline, are you drunk?

No. Why?

Shut up.

Been drunk.

♪ ♪

Hi.
[chuckles]

I wanted to see if you could
fend for yourself

with a pizza tonight.

Already got us pizza.

-Wait, do you have another date?
-No.

I'm just staying
at work late.

Okay, well,
I'll save you some pizza...

crust.

Do you wanna watch a movie?

Uh, yeah. I wanna
watch a movie.

You think?

Well, your mom never
stays out late.

I'm thinking maybe
we take advantage.

I mean, you said
you were ready, right?

I am.

I just want tonight
to be special.

Well, then...

Miss Issie, I will
make it a special night.

Hi.

Hello.

[sighs]

[chuckles]
It's quite a place.

[classical music playing]

You are not one
of those American women

who doesn't eat pasta...

A masochist? No.

I'll eat all the pasta.

Good.

Come here.

Wow.

My mother's recipe.

[chuckles]

Mmm.

What? That's so good.
What's in it?

It's like...
It's great.

I do not tell family secret.

-Yeah.
-If I told you what was in it,

I'd have to kill you.

Well, you must be
quite a consultant, Mr. Gatsby.

My clients require that
I handle their matters

with discretion,
and privacy comes at a price.

[sighs]
That sounds shady.

Ask me.

Ask you what?

You want to know
if I bring women here often.

I...

-I, um...
-I don't.

I'm out of practice
with all of this.

[chuckles]
It's just...

I guess what
I'm wondering is, um...

what are we doing here?

I don't know.

What are we doing
here, Caroline?

Eating pasta.

Good morning.

[mumbles]

Morning.

Oh, my God.

-We fell asleep.
-Mm-hmm.

You need to get out of here.

Like, now?

That's my mom.

You're still awake.

I was just coming
to say good night.

I mean, good morning.

Did you just get home?

Yeah. I had an all-nighter
at work.

Anyway, I was just
gonna get some sleep.

No, no, you wanna make pancakes?

Should we make some pancakes?

-Okay.
-Yeah?

Okay. Come on.

And pretty flower.

-[door closes]
-[both exhale]

I'm sorry about last night.

I thought I was ready.

But I had a really nice
time... laying together.

Me too.

Me too.

I liked-- I liked it.

Enjoy those pancakes.

[sighs]

[sighs]
I would have made those.

I was really hungry.

-Mmm.
-You slept for,
like, four hours.

Smells delicious.

-What's that?
-Hm?

Oh, that's just a place that
I had to go to a meeting.

How was last night?

Well, uh, kind of
confusing actually.

I, um...

-Well, Noah came over
and we were planning--
-[phone rings]

I'm sorry.

This is work.
I'll be right back.

Hello?

[shredder buzzes]

[sighs]

The only way out
of this is to pay

the bonuses
that you claimed.

I don't have the cash.

You have the cash though!

Where did it go?
It went somewhere!

And what--
and what is this?

What is this locked account
that I don't have access to?

-I don't know, Caroline.
You're the accountant.
-[knocking]

Come on--
Come in, come in.

Uh, delivery guy said
this was urgent.

[Jason]
Is that for me?

Uh, it's actually for her.

What is that?

Um, it's just a sweater
from my mom.

Is it your birthday?
We'll get cake!

-Uh--
-I'm gonna take care
of all of this.

-All right.
-You know, I'm gonna fix it.

[waves roaring]

♪ ♪

I haven't been here
in so long.

[sighs]

Let's go in.

♪ ♪

[jazz music playing]

[Gavin]
Si bellissima.

Si.

Ti amo. Ciao.

That was, uh, my mama.

She wanted to see if...

her sauce was
turning out in your hands.

Not as good as
when it's in your hands.

Mmm.

Mmm.

Perfecto.

You know, you don't...

have to be
a good girl for me.

You want me to be
a bad girl for you?

♪ ♪

♪ I take a sip
of the bottle ♪

♪ It's my remedy ♪

♪ And I know that
it is a problem ♪

♪ I am dealing with it
on the daily ♪

♪ I'm so upset
'cause you're not here ♪

♪ Like you're supposed to be ♪

♪ And I cannot
let you know ♪

♪ I am driving myself crazy ♪

♪ I need you, need you ♪

-♪ To come and see
about me babe, me babe ♪
-[phone rings]

♪ I've been waiting here
all this time ♪

[Caroline's voicemail]
You've reached
Caroline Prati.

I'm not available,
but please leave a message.

♪ I need you, need you ♪

♪ To come and see
about me babe, me babe ♪

♪ I've been waiting here
all this time ♪

♪ for you to come
and be mine, be mine ♪

♪ So this is love ♪

♪ Well it's not the way
I thought it'd be ♪

[moans]

When you want
something, Caroline...

-you take it.
-[moans]

♪ And I want some
kind of a relief ♪

♪ I want you here and now ♪

♪ I want it all somehow ♪

♪ I need you, need you ♪

♪ To come and see
about me babe, me babe ♪

♪ I've been waiting here
all this time ♪

♪ For you to come
and be mine, be mine ♪

♪ I need you, need you ♪

♪ To come and see
about me babe, me babe ♪

♪ I've been waiting here
all this time ♪

♪ For you to come
and be mine, be mine ♪

♪ Be mine ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Be mine ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Be mine ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Be mine ♪

♪ Oh, what's the use? ♪

♪ I'm through ♪

♪ Sick and tired
of being blue ♪

♪ When all I want is you
to come and give it to me ♪

♪ Like you wanna do ♪

♪ I need you, need you ♪

♪ To come and see
about me babe, me babe ♪

♪ I've been waiting here
all this time ♪

♪ For you to come
and be mine, be mine ♪

♪ I need you, need you ♪

♪ To come and see
about me babe, me babe ♪

♪ I've been waiting here
all this time ♪

♪ For you to come
and be mine, be mine ♪

What's wrong?

[sniffles]

Noah and I broke up.

[sobs]

Why? When did that happen?

[sniffles]
He...

he started acting weird
ever since...

-Ugh.
-Since what?

We were planning on...

But I wasn't ready.

So, we didn't and he said
that was okay.

Last night his phone went off
and it was a dating app.

Oh, God. Come here.

Mm. Shh.

It's okay.

He-- he said
he hasn't done anything.

He's just messaging other girls
to see what else is out there.

Why didn't you tell me that
you were planning on having sex?

Sorry I don't really think
of my mom as a sex expert.

But you haven't really been
around to talk to lately.

I hardly see you anymore.

Come here.

I'm sorry.

Why don't we have
a girls night?

You know, just you and me
and a little bit of Cusack.

Look at me.

You'll be okay.

[Delivery man]
Caroline Prati?

[gasps]

-♪ ♪
-[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicks]

[shutter clicks]

-[shutter clicks]
-[chime]

-[shutter clicks]
-[chime]

-[chime]
-[shutter clicks]

[chiming]

[Reporter]
We don't know
the exact cause of death.

The 25-year-old Montrose
was last seen

leaving a music festival
up in the desert,

but police say
there's evidence

that she returned home safely
then disappeared.

Hey.

I, uh, need you to
stay late tonight.

Oh, I can't.

-I have my daughter.
-I, uh...

I found that money
in the locked account.

It's the access code.

Uh, you've really been, uh,
coming out of your shell lately.

Keep your eyes out
of my shell.

I didn't. I was just--
All right, I'm gonna go work.

I'm sorry.

[dialing]

Hey, Mom. Looks like
"Frozen Ground" isn't on demand,

so what about "The Raven"?

I'm so sorry, sweetheart, but
I can't make it home tonight.

Uh-huh.

So how's things going
with Mister, um...

Donato.

Right.

Gavin. Gavin Donato.

They're good, thanks.
They're good.

-What was the name
of his company?
-You know what?

I really-- I gotta--
I gotta focus on this.

Sorry, Sean, okay?

You look nice.

[chiming]

[chiming]

[chiming]

[alarm blaring]

[siren wailing]

♪ ♪

[car honking]

I wish that I could quit

and tell him to
go screw himself,

but I have Issie's tuition.

If you need help, I can...

I can't take your money, Gavin.

Okay.

Forget I mentioned it.

-Maybe I could be a client.
-[chuckles]

You don't want to
get involved in my business.

-Oh.
-It's very shady, remember?

Well, maybe I like
a little shade.

I do have a...
a big deal coming up.

But it's a steep buy-in.

I happen to have
access to some very...

deep... pockets.

How deep?

Very deep.

$5,294,036.69.

Are you saying that
you would steal from your boss

-to invest in me?
-[chuckles]

I wouldn't be stealing
from my boss.

I'd be borrowing from my boss
to invest in you.

I would just
transfer some funds,

fudge some numbers...

I'm very good.
Nobody would even notice.

I like this side of you.

[chuckles]

[phone chimes]

Shoot.

[sighs]

[mouthing]
I have to go.

I will be here
when you get back.

Hi, Mom.

Hi, honey.

Your boss called.

He said you disappeared
six hours ago

after a fire alarm?

-Are you okay?!
-Oh. Yeah, I'm good.

I'm fine, yeah.

What's going on with you?

Um...

I've been seeing Gavin.

Why would you
keep that from me?

Um, well, I don't know.

I didn't know
how serious it was.

I mean, I just didn't want
you to get your hopes up.

Oh, my God.

Adult relationships, honey,
are just very complicated.

Okay, so you're
the relationship expert now

and I'm just the dumb kid?

You need to look
at yourself, okay?

You're not acting like my mom!

I am taking care of myself
for the first time

in a long time
and I finally feel alive.

Well, that's good because
I already have one dead parent.

Come on.
That's not what I meant.

-Come on--
-Just please--

-Honey...
-I'm just-- I'm gonna
go to bed. Stop, Mom!

I'm just-- I'm just
gonna go to bed.

[door slams]

-Brian, come here.
-Yeah, what's up?

-Just picked her up
this weekend.
-Oh, wow.

Oh, man, when I take her
out on the PCH,

oh, baby, does she purr.

Oh, that's cool.

Totally worth
all the six figures.

[chuckles]

-You can go now. Carry on.
-All right.

[Brian]
He's so cool.

♪ ♪

[Gavin]
Caroline...

if you want something,
take it.

Take what you deserve.

[Sean]
Hey.

Hi.

Hey, I-- I just looked
into this Gavin Donato guy.

What do you mean
you looked into him?

Well, I mean, I tried to
but I couldn't find anything.

-[scoffs]
-There's-- there's no websites

or-- or articles pertaining
to his business.

I-- I even asked a few friends
at consulting firms, and...

no one's ever heard of him.

How in the world is this
any of your business, Sean?

I just want to make sure
you really know this guy
like you think you do.

I...

You know what, you're right.

Have a good night.

Tonight we celebrate.

The deal I've been working on

is finally going through
next week.

-And what is the deal?
-A Swiss firm.

-Commercial real estate.
-Ooh.

You do all of this by yourself?

It's cleaner that way.

Must be nice to be boss.

It is.

I almost did
something crazy today.

-Crazy?
-Crazy.

Yeah.

"Crazy".

[whispers]
I almost took
all of Jason's money.

Why didn't you?

[both chuckle]

Because I couldn't take it.

It belongs to everybody else.

We weren't serious

when we were talking
about this the other day.

Caroline...

my offer still stands.

If we put five million
into this deal,

you will get it all back
and more.

And like you said,

no one would even
know it's gone.

But what if I got caught?

-We would just disappear.
-I can't disappear.

-I have a daughter.
-She would disappear too.

-You've never met my daughter.
-But you love her.

And I love you.

I need to go home.

I...

I-- I...

Caroline, I-- I...

I am sorry! I...

[sighs]

[sighs]

[sighs]

Mom!

[gasps]

What's going on?

Um...

Gavin told me that he loved me.

He said he loved you?

Things are just really
messed up right now...

-I-- I need to fix it.
-Yeah, Mom. I can tell.

I need to go talk to him.

Do whatever you want.

Can I help you?

Yeah. I'm here to see Gavin.

He's out on business.

I'm his girlfriend, Margot,
if you want to leave a message.

Yeah, I'm his
girlfriend, Caroline.

Just let him know
I stopped by.

-Oh.
-Yeah.

Um...

[laughs dryly]

I don't know
about you, Caroline,

but I could use a drink.

And our boyfriend,
he has some top-shelf liquor.

[laughs]

You comin'?

[door closes]

Thanks.

I've only been dating him
for a month.

I've only been dating him
for a month.

[Both]
We started dating him
at the same time.

I knew it was
too good to be true.

Like, he stepped out
of a romance novel or something.

"I saw you on Venice Beach
at lunch time.

"Red hair and a scarf,

reading a romance novel."

"All bundled up
against the world.

Your body was quiet,
but your soul cried out."

[both scoff]

We read the same
Missed Connections.

I know. I-- I can't believe
we fell for that.

Well, it was vague enough
to get responses,

it was specific enough
to find an easy target.

Reading a romance novel
on a crowded beach,

I mean, it's like
laying a trap

for vulnerable women.

Vulnerable redheads.

Can't say he doesn't
have a type.

[both snort]

For whatever it's worth,
I don't think you have sad eyes.

Thank you.

You don't either.

Thanks.

Do you forgive me?

I'm gonna...
I'm gonna head home.

I have a daughter
waiting for me.

Yeah. I'm--
I'm right behind you...

except I can't leave

because I am
in business with him!

-Swiss real estate?
-Oh, Chinese technology!

Vague enough
but specific enough.

I have almost given him
my entire life savings.

-[burner clicks]
-I'm gonna blow his house up.

No, I'm gonna call the police.

Okay. That's... [laughs]

that's more rational.

Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait.

We don't have any proof

and we're obviously
not the first

and we won't be the last.

He needs to be stopped.

I have an idea.

If he is what we think he is,

then we can get him.

Okay, good.

So no more sleeping with him.

No more sleeping with him.

[phone chimes]

[Teenage Paul V.O.]
Caroline, I tried
to say this in person,

but I was too scared,
so I'm leaving a note
in your locker,

which has been
right next to mine

since freshman year.

[reading along]
You smile with me every day,

but I've never said, "Hello."

"Your beauty cripples me.

Will you go to
the prom with me?"

♪ ♪

[sobs]

♪ ♪

When you said
what you said before

about loving me,
I needed to think about it.

Gavin, I want to be with you.

Let's do this.

[sighs]

I didn't, uh, I didn't think
that I would ever see you again.

Jason is gonna go
out of town on Wednesday.

How do we do this?

Um...

not yet.

Come with me.

It's a clear view tonight.

I...

I need to hear it.

Do you love me?

I love you.

I love you.

If you had to leave
all of this behind,

would you stay with me?

Of course.

I have a offshore account.

You can transfer the money
and we can just...

disappear.

When?

Friday.

Friday.

Yes, we can make
that happen on Friday.

Even if I'm not
who I say I am?

Yes.

I love you.

[shudders]

♪ ♪

-What are you doing?
-[gasps]

I couldn't sleep.

I was just so excited
thinking about

where we would disappear to.

Come back to bed.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[Caroline]
He must have picked her up
after I left.

I mean, all I could see
was that they were arranging

a first date and that
her name was Halle

before Gavin came in.

-But...
-Jesus.

You have to be careful.

This guy is
a master manipulator.

He could be really dangerous.

Are you making any progress?

No, he's been
pulling away from me.

Probably realizing I'm tapped,

which is why he's
on the hunt for fresh meat.

So, you spent
the night then I guess?

How did you avoid
sleeping with him?

I just said that
I was not feeling well.

[sighs]

Are you seeing Gavin tonight?

-No. You?
-No.

But if he's taking
that Halle on a first date...

[Both]
Le Petit Menteur.

[Caroline]
Oh, my God,
she's so young.

[Margot]
Ah. You're never too young
for first love...

and betrayal.

I walked out of that dinner.

It was this bookstore lunch
that really got me.

[sighs]
So romantic.

Hey, we both fell for it
hook, line, and sinker.

You know, when I lived in, uh,
Boston, I dated this guy

who lived on
his dad's fishing boat.

He was a real winner.

He loved to fish,
and he taught me that

some fish go
for flashy lure

while others,
they like the simple bait.

It seems our Gavin is
quite the fisherman.

-No.
-No.

[Caroline]
Wow.

[Margot]
On a first date?

I'm sorry that
I let you down.

I am so sorry about that.

I just hadn't felt that way
since your dad died...

and I just...

I just let it get--
I just let it get too far.

It's okay.
It's okay, Mom.

I forgive you.

I just miss you
but you deserve to be happy.

I am happy.

I am happy with just you
and me, and I...

I don't need anything else.

We can always get cats.

[laughs]

I don't want cats.

-Can I go to college with you?
-Mm-hmm.

You can live in my dorm.

[both laugh]

-Let's go back to bed.
-Yeah.

[splash]

I mean, the only thing
we can prove to the police

is that he's a cheater,
and that's not exactly a crime.

[Reporter]
The body of another young woman

has washed ashore
here in Venice Beach

Police now suspect
that a serial killer may be...

Turn that up, please.

-Could you turn that up?
-Yeah.

21-year-old Halle Philton,
a college student,

disappeared after telling
a roommate she was going to

go connect with a man she had
been talking with online.

Philton's body was found here
in shallow water

actually about 100 yards
from where coffee heiress

Alexia Montrose
was found recently,

and it turns out that
there are other similarities

between these two young women.

Both have red hair,

both of them died
under similar circumstances

-although the detectives
won't tell us
-Oh, my God.

what those circumstances are.

Doesn't look like our fisherman
is the catch and release type.

More the catch and gut type.

I have to see him
this afternoon.

Well, if you don't show up,

he'll know something's up.

So, go to lunch
and get the evidence

and then we will go
straight to the police.

[sighs]

♪ I couldn't see the lies
right through their eyes ♪

♪ But now the truth be
plain as daylight ♪

Everything okay?

Uh, not really. No.

Client backed out on me
unexpectedly today.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Oh, be sorry for them.

People pay the price
when they toy with me.

Do you trust me?

Yeah, of course.

Because I-- I'm starting
to get the feeling you don't.

Why would you say that?

You've been acting
differently lately.

Are you sure you're not
getting cold feet?

No, I'm planning to make
the transfer on Friday

from Jason's account to yours
just like we were talking about.

Good.

Honey, everything is
gonna be okay.

After Friday, we won't have
a care in the world.

What is the catch
of the day?

[Caroline recording]
Everything okay?

[Gavin]
Uh, not really. No,

A client backed out
on me unexpectedly today.

-I'm sorry to hear that.
-Oh, be sorry for them.

People pay the price
when they toy with me.

Well, now that's something.

[Detective Mickle]
So what kind of business
do you do, Mr. Donato?

I am an independent
financial consultant.

Right.

That's nice
and vague, isn't it?

For someone who has

little idea how
the financial world works,

I suppose
it would be, Detective.

[chuckles]

So, if I wanted to see records

of all your most recent
business transactions...

You'd need a warrant.

And while we're on the subject

of me telling you
how to do your job,

I am not saying another word
until my lawyer gets here.

All right, Mr. Donato.

We don't have to talk
about your business.

But until your lawyer gets here,

why don't you just humor me
with some small talk?

You're from Italy, Mr. Donato.

Yes.

-Where in Italy?
-Nerano.

It is a small village.

Si.

[speaking Italian]

[speaking Italian]

[speaking Italian]

Oh, maybe you just
prefer to speak English.

Got a girlfriend, Gavin?

I mean, a good looking
boy like you...

bet you meet a lot
of nice girls online.

[gasps]
Luckily, we have a warrant

for the bank records
of Halle Philton.

Care to explain this?

I know you're not trying
to talk to my client

without me being
present, Detective.

Oh, your client?

Oh, we were just having
a little chat
about his love life.

Hear he makes
quite the killing.

I don't know what
you're insinuating, Detective,

but unless you're charging
Mr. Donato with something,

we're leaving.

Gratzi.

[Detective Mickle chuckles]

Wow, your boyfriend's
a real charmer.

That was it?

He's still expecting a transfer
from you tomorrow, right?

Yeah.

Good.

I'll put together
a sting operation.

But that's all for financial
fraud charges, right?

I mean, this guy
is a killer, Detective.

Listen, caught is caught.

Once we've got him
under our thumb,

if there's more evidence
to be found, we'll find it.

For now we have to work
with what we've got.

-And this stuff, yeah,
it's easier than I--
-Totally.

-than it looks, right?
-Yeah.

Hello, my love.

Hey.

I thought it was
about time I met Issie

and I-- I wanted
to surprise you.

Gavin was just giving me
advice on how to handle Noah.

Ah, yes. But remember,
if he doesn't step up

and treat you like
you are the only one for him,

he is dead to you.

Issie, I need to speak to Gavin.

If you could go
to your room, please.

-But he was gonna take us--
-Now, Issie.

You know, I gotta hand it
to you, Caroline.

I didn't think
you'd be this much trouble.

You're not even Italian.

Yeah, that-- that first date...

[sighs]

it was, um, the test

to see how much effort
I'm gonna need to put in.

And you...

with those starry eyes and...

your broken heart, you...

you were like Silly Putty
from the moment we met.

Screw you, Gavin.

Okay.

You see, I...

I find that if you push
a woman's boundaries sexually,

she's more inclined to take

chances outside
of the bedroom...

like steal from work for a guy
she knows nothin' about.

You didn't break me, Gavin.

Get out of my house.

"I... I loved against reason...

"against promise,
against peace...

against hope,
against happiness."

[screams]

I broke you!

-[gasping]
-I broke you.

It is time to give up

your money because
if you go to the police,

if you go up
against me...

-Mom!
-[gasps]

-Oh...
-Hey, Mom!

-I'm gonna go
over to Noah's.
-Yeah, okay.

Are you okay?

Yeah, no, I can--
I can drive you to Noah's.

Did you-- you guys
got back together?

Yeah. Gavin's advice
actually worked.

I see why you like him so much.

He's, like, a love expert.

[sobs]

-[voicemail beep]
-Um...

Detective Mickle,
if you get this message,

I, um...

I just, I can't...

I just-- I'm out.

I can't-- I can't do this.

Goddamn!

[gasps]

You all right?

Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks.

[voicemail beep]

[Margot]
It's Margot.
You know what to do.

Oh, my God.

[gasps]

[Sean]
Hey, Caroline,
I need to show you the--

[siren wailing]

[Officer Hess]
The place is a rental.

I ran the payment history.
It was a dead end.

We gotta contact
the Coast Guard.

This guy could be out
dumping the body right now.

I gotta show you something.
Come here.

Look at this.

That's the missing necklace
from the Alexia Montrose case.

[Detective Mickle]
And that is Halle Philton's.

[Detective Hess]
I bet that's Margot Fouratt.

[Detective Mickle]
That's what I'm thinking.

[police radio chatter]

[police radio chatter]

[shutter clicks]

♪ ♪

[screaming]

Hey, hey, hey,
hands behind your back!

She's a crazy bitch!

Yeah, just sit
and be quiet, sir.

[car door closes]

♪ ♪

[Reporter]
Most of his marks knew him
as Gavin Donato,

a successful
Italian businessman.

His real name,

Michael Petrouka,

a con artist from Boston,

but now most widely known as

the Missed Connections Killer.

Once caught by authorities,

evidence of dozens

of fraudulent financial
transactions were unearthed,

totaling more than
$2 million in stolen money,

and all of them starting
with a romantic seduction

from the popular
Missed Connections website.

But in the end,
Alexia Montrose, Halle Philton,

and and Margot Fouratt were
his final marks,

and who paid with their lives.

But it's thanks to the courage
of another mark, Caroline Prati,

that police finally honed in
on Petrouka and captured him.

Oh, my God.
Mom, look at this.

Issie, what are you doing
looking at this website?

It's cathartic.

But look.

They've posted every day
for the past two weeks.

[Margot]
Caroline!

Margot.

I don't understand.

What don't you understand?

Oh, Caroline.

You never understand anything
that's staring you in the face

and neither did Gavin.
[chuckles]

We didn't keep him around
for that though, did we?

Come in.

Have a drink.

We're celebrating.
I'm alive!

I know that
you liked my boyfriend,

but it doesn't matter
because I invented him.

[Caroline]
What's going on?

You look great.

I know it was mean,
but Gavin and I used to laugh

at you for falling
for that Missed Connections ad.

[chuckles]
"Your body was quiet

and your soul
reached out to me."

I wrote that.

[chuckles]

And his mom's tomato sauce,

I made that.

And this house,
I own it.

When I first met him,
his name was Mikey

and he was from Boston.

He worked in some dive bar

and he lived on
his dad's fishing boat.

He didn't know the difference
between a Merlot and a Bordeaux.

[chuckles]
His Italian accent,

I mean, it was the worst!

He could never get it right!

I told him it would be
what took him down.

But Detective Mickle,
she was smart.

She could see
right through him, but you...

How did you fall for that?

You're smarter than that.

Why did you bring me here?

I used to watch
you and Issie.

You're a really good mom.

You stay away from my daughter.

And I watched you and Gavin.

And I told you
not to sleep with him.

And you promised
me you wouldn't,

but you lied to my face.

And I hate liars!

Like that Alexia.

Stupid little rich bitch.

She tried to steal him
from me.

"One more con, baby.
It's just you and me."

You were gonna be
the last one.

$5 million, and then...

and then...

he went after Halle
and her college tuition?

I mean, this isn't amateur hour.

You were a little more
sexually adventurous

than I imagined.

I'm getting out of here.

-Sit down
-[gasps]

and relax.

Drink your champagne.

Just drink it.

[chuckles]
We're friends.

We're friends, aren't we?

I feel that we are connected.

Not like the others.

Gavin didn't kill them.

[chuckles]

No.

Gavin's not a killer.

But he's worse.

He destroyed my life.

He broke my heart.

He made me wish I was dead!

[sighs]

You don't have to do this.

I am sitting alone,
watching news

and sweet, little Caroline,
she's the hero...

and I'm rotting away
in some Tijuana motel.

All alone.

And Gavin, he's locked up now.

She's a crazy bitch!

Now Gavin is safe
from all of you.

You're insane.

A sacrifice had to be made.

[gasps]

It is time to give up, Caroline.

[laughter]

Why...

why...

are you making me do this?

Mom...

are you okay?

-[grunts]
-[gasps]

[groans]

[breathes heavily]

[overlapping chatter]

-Hey, Caroline.
-Shut up, Jason.

I'm gonna be
a company partner...

and my first order of business
is demoting you

to a silent partner.

You can't do that.

Unless you want me to
tell the IRS

everything I know
about the secret account,

I'd take that little trip
to the Maldives with Tiki.

When?

Now.

Now?

Yeah. Now.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

-Good girl.
-All right.

I'm glad we had this chat.

Oh, and Jason, catch.

[bark]

[barking]

♪ ♪

[chuckles]

I am so stoked!

[Woman]
This is crazy!

[Woman #2]
Crazy, right?

[buzzer]

What do you want?

It's so funny.

You asked me that
on our first date.

"What do you want, Caroline?"

I want to do
the right thing, Gavin.

I know that you
didn't kill anybody.

I know that Margot set you up.

Okay, yeah.

Um, yeah. Okay.

I-- I understand.

Um, we were both deceived
but now we know the truth

and we can fix this...

together.

Do you still believe
in fate, Gavin?

Yeah, of course.

Good, 'cause this is yours.

Caroline! C-- Caroline!

-Caroline!
-[door opens]

[door closes]

Caroline!

Caroline!

Get back here!

[Man]
Shut up!

♪ ♪

♪ Whoa, it's a pirate's life ♪

-♪ Ain't nothing else for me ♪
-♪ For me ♪

♪ Just stealing hearts
and shooting stars ♪

♪ Then shoving out to sea ♪

♪ Baby, I'll leave
this world alone ♪

♪ Whoa, it's a fancy time ♪

♪ Got lots of diamond rings ♪

♪ Putting on my gloves ♪

♪ And I've been
slipping through new sheets ♪

♪ Darling, I like
the great unknown ♪

♪ Come on,
take me by my hand ♪

♪ I will treat you
like no one else has ♪

♪ Let's get undressed ♪

♪ We can be best friends ♪

♪ You're the only one ♪

♪ The son of a gun I need ♪

♪ You need me ♪

♪ Like a disease ♪

♪ Whoa, it's a pirate's life ♪

-♪ Ain't nothing else for me ♪
-♪ For me ♪

♪ Just stealing hearts
and shooting stars ♪

♪ Then shoving off to sea ♪

♪ Baby, I'll leave
this world alone ♪

♪ Whoa, it's a fancy time ♪

♪ Got lots of diamond rings ♪

♪ Putting on my gloves ♪

♪ And I've been
slipping through new sheets ♪

♪ Darling, I like
the great unknown ♪

♪ Whoa, it's a pirate's life ♪

-♪ Ain't nothing else for me ♪
-♪ For me ♪

♪ Just stealing hearts
and shooting stars ♪

♪ Then shoving off to sea ♪

♪ Baby, I'll leave
this world alone ♪